Sheet-drying mechanism



July 13, m2@ 195%954 W. H, BANZETT SHEET DRYING MECHANISM Filed May 16, 19241 a@ No a@ 05m @fr l SV@ jy www Patented duly 1.3, 19252.

UNITED s'r'rss i isaiasi Parar erstes.-

KTILLIAM H. BANZETT, 0F BERGENFIEIQD, NEN JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN LITHOGRAPHIC COMPANY, OE NEVI YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SHEET-DRYING MECHANISM.

Application nea May 1e,

This invention relates to sheet drying mechanisms and has forv its object to provide a mechanism of the class specified, simple in construction and speedy and efficient in operation. Y

lVith these ends in view and others which will appear later herein, my improvements comprise yfeatures illustrated in their preferred embodiment in the drawing accompanying this specification, wherein Figure 1 is a diagrammatic longitudinal section o f a mechanism embodying my improvements. kFig. 2 is a front elevation of a portion of what is shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an end view of a pair of sprockets at the receiving end of the mechanism and showing the conveyor chains thereon. Figs. 1 and 3 are to one scale and Fig. 2 is to another scale about four times that of Figs. 1 and 3.

The present invention is directed to the removal of successive printed sheets from the impression cylinder, as 2, of a printing press in which the form cylinder 3 is inked by immersion in ink in trough 4. My improvements are particularly useful in connection with gravure printing, as the ink used in such printing is a Huid ink and especially liable to smear kafter application to a sheet of paper.

At one side of said impression cylinder, yfixed to shaft 28, are opposite sprockets 5, 6 over which conveyorchains 7 8 are led and said chains may be provided with the usual grippers, as 9, for gripping the leading ends of the sheets to said conveyor chains. Known means, not shown, may be provided for closing and opening said grippers at suitable times and places for receiv-V ing and discharging the sheets. Said Asprocket shaft 28 has fixed thereto gear 29 for meshing with gear 30 Xed to shaft 81 of impression cylinder 2 whereby power is transmitted from shaft 31, which may be considered the prime mover, to sprockets 5,

6 and chains 7, 8.

1924. Serial No. 7l-3,713.

veyor chains from sprockets 5, 6 is preferably, first downwardly over radiators 11, then about sprockets, as 14, in the lower portion of chamber 10, then horizontally over radiators 12, and then upwardly about sprockets, as 15, over radiators 13, thence outwardly from chamber 10 and over drum 16. Thence said chains pass horizontally over sheet receiving table 17, where the sheets are delivered successively. Chains 7, 8 then passabout sprockets,'as 18, and return outside chamber 10, over sprockets, as 19, then downwardly about drum 20 and horizontally to drum 21, then upwardly to sprockets 5 and 6. The horizontal runs of said conveyor chains are arranged low so as to provide access thereo-ver to the inking mechanism 4. Y

Chamber 10 is provided at one end there of at one side, as at 22, with an air inlet and at the other end, as at 23, 23, with one or more air outlets. At some convenient place within said chamber, as near sprockets 15, is arranged nozzle 24 through which a blast of air may be directed against the passing sheets. Said blast of air may be supplied through pipe 27 from some source not shown, but for the purposes herein, said pipe 27 may be considered the source of supply. Said air blast is also eflicient for inducing a draft of air through said chamber from inlet 22 toward and out through openings 23 and for inducing the passing sheets to lie close to radiators 12. The heat from the radiators within said chamber causes the ink solvent to evaporate and the current of air removes the gases generated, through openings 23. By a properly selected relation between the length or number, or both, of `radiators 12, the amount of heat V.radiated .therefrom and the quantity and force of the air blast, sheets may be passed through chamber 10 at the same speed as delivered by the press and suitably dried before reaching the stack. c

The operation of my improved mechanism will be readily understood, therefore, suffice it to state that the sheet to be printed is fed from board 25 onto cylinder 2 and thence between said cylinder 2 and form cilinder 3 and, as the leading end of the sheet reaches sprockets 5, 6, grippers 9 on chains 7, 8 take the leading end of the sheet from said cylinder 2 and carry the sheet upwardly over said sprockets and thence ico los

downwardly into chamber 10, the printed face of the sheet facing the conveyor and the imprinted tace traveling against radiators 11, and thence over horizontal radiators 12, where air Jfrom nozzle 24 will assist in holding the sheet S against said radiators, or their netting cover 26, and also carry ott' the gases evaporated trom the ink on the sheet. The sheet then passes upwardly over radiators 13 and thence out ot' chamber 1G and horizontally over the stack on table 17 onto the top of which the sheet is delivered by the release of grippers 9.

It will be understood that table 17 may be provided with known means for lowering the pile from time to time to keep the top at a proper level for receiving the sheets as they are delivered. Neither this device nor the printing press form any part o my improvements. It is also recognized that nuw merous drying devices for sheets have been heretofore proposed but none of them, known to me, have the construction, tunetion or mode of operation set forth herein.

I claim l. In a sheet drying mechanism the combination of an endless carrier having spaced apart lengthwise thereof a plurality ot means for gripping the leading ends ot sheets respectively, said carrier having a receiving station contiguous to the delivery cylinder ot' a printing press and a delivery station contiguous to a sheet receiving table, the path ot' said carrier extending downwardly from said receiving station, then substantially horizontally, then upwardly to above said table and then substantially horizont-ally over said table, a drying chamber, the sheet-carrying run ot said carrier being partially within said chamber, means for heating said chamber, and means for actuating said carrier.

2. In a sheet. drying mechanism the combination of an endless carrier h'aving spaced apart lengthwise thereof a plurality ot means ior gripping the leading ends ot sheets respectively, said carrier having a receiving station contiguous to the delivery cylinder oi a printing press and a delivery s ation contiguous to a sheet receiving table, the path ot said carrier extending downwardly from said receiving station, then substantially horizontally, then upwardly to above said table and then substantially horizontally over said table, a drying chainber, the sheet-carrying run of said carrier beingl partially within said chamber, means for heating said chamber, means vt'or induring a circulation of air through said rhamber, and means for actuating said carrier.

3. In a sheet drying mechanism the com- ;ination of an endless carrier having spaced apartV lengthwise thereof a plurality ol' means for gripping the leading ends of sheets respectively, said carrier having a rcceiving station contiguous to the delivery cylinder or' a printing press and a delivery station contiguous to a sheet receiving able, the path of said carrier ex ending downwardly from said receiving station, J[hen substantially horizontally, then upvardly to above said table and then substantially horizontally over said table. a drying chamber, a heater within said chamber, the sheet-carrying run of said carrier beingr partially .within said chamber, and adapted to pass the sheets over said heater. means tor inducing a circulation ot air through said chamber, and means for actuating said carrier.

et. In a sheet drying mechanism the combination oi" an endless carrier having spaced apart lengthwisek thereof a plurality ofi means for gripping the leading ends of sheets respectively, said carrier having a re ceiving station contiguous` to the delivery cylinder ot' a printing press and a delivery station contiguous to a sheet receiving table, the path oic said carrier extending downwardly from said receiving station, then substantially horizontally, then upwardly to above said table and then substantially horizontally over said table, a drying chamber, the sheetcarrying run ot' said carrier being partially within said chamber. means contiguous to the path ot said carrier t'or heatingthe passing sheets, means t'or the admission ot air to said chamber near the point ot exit' ot said carrier `t'rom said chamber and means for the exit ot' air trom said chamber near the point ot entranctl of said carrier to said chamber. means vl'or causing air to enter through said admission means and to be discharged through said exit means, and means for actuating said carrier.

In witness whereof. l hereby attix my sii;- nature this lith day ot May, 192k WILLIAM n. nagzn'rr 

